Palace: Arroyo wants book thrown at sex video makers, distributors

MANILA, Philippines - Disgusted with the sex video scandal involving controversial celebrity doctor Hayden Kho, President Arroyo wants the book thrown at the video’s producers and distributors. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Thursday Mrs. Arroyo also wants Congress to come up with laws that encourage respect for women. “Siyempre hindi siya natutuwa sa pangyayaring yan... Ah, she is expecting ang ating mga agencies na involved na may magagawa sa kasong yan, under existing laws, ay mag-aksyon," Remonde said in an interview on dzXL radio. [Of course she is not happy with it. She is expecting agencies concerned to take action, under existing laws.] In a separate interview on dzRH radio, Remonde said the scandal had also become the hottest topic even in the Cabinet. He said the Cabinet sympathized with actress-model Katrina Irene Pe Halili, one of those featured prominently in the videos. “Ay oo, medyo concerned ang lahat sa bagay na yan [Yes, everyone is concerned over it]," he said. A national scandal broke out over the uploading on the Internet of a video featuring Kho and actress-model Katrina Irene Pe Halili. Halili lodged a complaint against Kho before the National Bureau of Investigation Wednesday, after seeking help from Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. But barely had Halili sought help from the NBI when DVD videos of Kho and another model, a minor, also began circulating. Several vendors of porn discs have cashed in on the scandal, selling the videos for as low as P10 per disc to as high as P60 for discs containing “bonus" sex videos. On the other hand, Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo will also welcome any move for the passage of “additional laws" on respect for women. “She also welcomes any move for the passage of any additional laws that will be more fit sa usapin ng pagrerespeto ng kababaihan [She also welcomes any move for the passage of any additional laws on respect for women]," he said. - GMANews.TV